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Swimming’s Golden Boy – Michael Phelps 泳坛金童：菲尔普斯

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Swimming’s Golden Boy – Michael Phelps  泳坛金童：菲尔普斯

All eyes were on Beijing’s “Water Cube” this summer, but it wasn’t long before the building’s futuristic design was overshadowed by events on the pool inside. The world looked on in awe as America’s Michael Phelps surpassed the achievements of sporting legends to cement his place in Olympic history.

今年夏天，北京的「水立方」是众人瞩目的焦点，但不久后，此建筑充满未来感的设计，和泳池内的竞赛相较下便黯然失色。世人惊叹地见证美国的麦可．菲尔普斯，超越体育传奇人物的成就，巩固自己于奥运史上的地位。

Phelps competed in events featuring all four strokes and broke seven world records in the process, but it was the 4X100m medley relay that earned Phelps his 8th Olympic gold! In doing so, 23-year-old Phelps beat a 36-year-old record for the most golds won in a single Games. That’s not bad for a guy who had difficulty concentrating on anything, according to his grade-school teacher. Now a model of single-minded focus, Phelps believes “if you dream as big as you can dream, anything is possible.”

菲尔普斯参加了包含四式的竞赛项目，并一路打破7项世界纪录，但让菲尔普斯夺下第8面金牌却是四百公尺混合接力！夺下8金后，23岁的菲尔普斯打破了保持36年的单次奥运最多金牌纪录。他的小学老师表示，对一个凡事都难以专注的人来说，此成就诚属难能可贵。如今已成为全力以赴楷模的菲尔普斯相信，「只要胸怀远大梦想，没有不可能的事。」

Robot Controlled by a Rat Brain?!  鼠脑机器人：老年失智症新曙光？

When it comes to the brain, scientists are always searching for new insights. Now, researchers at UK’s University of Reading have developed a robot controlled by a rat’s brain to try and better understand diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

谈到脑部，科学家始终在探寻新见解。如今，英国的瑞丁大学已研发出由鼠脑控制的机器人，试图进一步了解像老年失智症（阿兹海默症）的疾病。

The “brain” consists of a bundle of disconnected rat nerve cells. These neurons are kept in a temperature-controlled cabinet with electrodes attached that allow signals between brain and robot via Bluetooth short wave radio. The robot has ultrasound sensors to detect obstacles, and the brain responds with a message to move away. Through repetition, the connections between the neurons become stronger. As the robot learns how to navigate itself, scientists can monitor how the brain learns and forms memories.

这颗「鼠脑」由许多分离的鼠神经细胞组成。这些神经元保存于一个控温柜中，接上电极后，让脑部及机器人间，可藉蓝芽短波无线电传递讯号。该机器人具备超音波传感器可侦测障碍物，而脑部则以避开的讯息做为响应。藉由一再重复，神经元间的连结变得更强。在机器人学习如何自我行进的同时，科学家便可监控脑部如何经由学习形成记忆。

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Vocabulary

单词发音

surpass [sɚˋpæs] v. 胜过；优于

legend [ˋlɛdʒənd] n. 传奇人物

insight [ˋɪn͵saɪt] n. 洞察力；深刻的理解

obstacle [ˋɑbstək!] n. 障碍（物）

navigate [ˋnævə͵get] v. 导航; 驾驶；操纵

More Information

单词发音

futuristic [͵fjutʃɚˋɪstɪk] adj. 未来派的

overshadow [͵ovɚˋʃædo] adj. 使相形见拙

in awe 满怀敬意地 fearful and respectful of someone or something

stroke [strok] n.（划船，游泳的）一划，划法

medley relay 混合泳接力

medley [ˋmɛdlɪ] adj.【古】混合的，混杂的

relay [ˋrɪle] n. 接力赛跑；接力赛中的一程

grade-school【美】小学的

single-minded [ˋsɪŋg!ˋmaɪndɪd] adj. 一心一意的，专心的

Alzheimer [ˋɑlts͵haɪmɚ] n. 老年痴呆症（亦称：Alzheimer's disease）

neuron [ˋnjʊrɑn] n. 神经单位（细胞）；神经元

cabinet [ˋkæbənɪt] n. 橱，柜

electrode [ɪˋlɛktrod] n. 电极

Bluetooth 蓝牙（一种短距离无线传输技术，最初由易利信创制，后来由蓝牙技术联盟订定技术标准）

ultrasound [ˋʌltrə͵saʊnd] n. 超音波

repetition [͵rɛpɪˋtɪʃən] n. 重复；反复